Team Works Officials Are the Third Team in the Competition

Most people think two teams are required for an athletic competition. Officials know better. It takes three — the teams scheduled to take the field or court, plus the team of officials. As the saying goes, without the officials, anything else is just practice.

Just as the athletes must work as a team in order to win, the officiating crew must exhibit teamwork in order to execute at the highest level. But being assigned to a crew does not ensure teamwork. So how well does your crew perform? Grade your group on these 10 items and see how you fare.

• Is everyone on the crew there for the same reason? Common mission and values drive team success. The pressure to “move up” or earn postseason assignments is a powerful one. But if some crew members are aiming for the state tournament while others are happy to be just working the regular season, some adjustments may be necessary. The desire to make more money doing other sports can be a drawback as well. Will a crewmate create an opening on a game night to work a different sport with a different crew? Is there enough focus by individual crewmembers on the game at hand?

• Does the crew take personal responsibility for game preparation? Is the crew ready? Many associations require weekly caseplay reviews and regular study. But even when that’s not the case, it’s the individual’s responsibility to maintain a solid understanding of the fouls, penalties, rules and specifics of the position. Does the crew arrive at the pregame prepared? Do the members hold one another accountable? If someone is assigned a task, such as choosing a rendezvous point and meeting time to travel together, or putting together a quiz for the ride to the game, is that being handled?

• What is the nature of the pregame meeting? Is it business or bickering? Overly convivial? Are the pregame meetings coordinated and geared to discussing points of emphasis and potential game events? Does the atmosphere encourage questions and learning? Or are they sessions mired in complaints about game fees, the quality of the competing teams or the assignments of other officials?

• How does the crew view the crew chief or lead official? The head of the crew wields significant influence not only on the field or court but off. During a game does he or she create an environment of, “Let’s just get the call right,” or one of, “Don’t embarrass me”? Are crewmembers more concerned with the lead official’s influence on subsequent playoff assignments?

• How is conflict handled?

Officials are notoriously confident — they have to be in order to make split-second decisions. In pressurefilled situations that confidence can manifest itself in the form of closed minds and an unwillingness to discuss other viewpoints. Is your crew able to constructively and quickly handle conflict among crewmembers?

• Does the crew focus only on the negative? Clearly missed calls draw the most attention and they need to be addressed at the appropriate time. However, positive feedback validates good performance and builds a constructive and upbeat atmosphere.

• Are crewmembers empowered? Empowerment is a word often overused and seldom understood. Empowered team members enjoy an environment of trust that fuels assured decision-making. They are vested in the success of the crew.